How is it? Is their anything to it beyond its wonky and somewhat pretentiously patented dice system? How credible is it as a system for pulp action? Is the setting some combination of retro, cool, and semi-beleivable?
Inquiring minds want to know...
You know, I didn't get to play any demos at Gen Con, but physically, the book is pretty striking and the art and presentation really make you want to strike out at once for Parts Unknown (Darkest Africa, mayhap). The Ubiquity system, from what I've read, sounds kind of pulpy, but I'm afraid I can't offer anything beyond that.
How about a review once you're done reading it?
I have only dont a little bit of reading of this book, but it really looks like it would be a great game for anyone who is into pulp gaming.
The system is pretty nice as well.
Again I will post more on it when I have it read. Hipefully i'll post reviews of both HEX and Burning Empires in the next week or two. :pundit:
Quote from: JongWKHow about a review once you're done reading it?
I'll see what I can do. I'm crazily (and very happily) backlogged with titles from Politically Incorrect Games, Flying Mice, and HinterWelt I need to finish up, too. :flop:
It does look mighty purty. but when I look at the price I start wondering if I cant do the same thing with my dog- eared copies of "Lands of Mystery", "Hollow world", and GURPS.
Quote from: Zachary The FirstI'll see what I can do. I'm crazily (and very happily) backlogged with titles from Politically Incorrect Games, Flying Mice, and HinterWelt I need to finish up, too. :flop:
And if you move Hollow Earth ahead of us, Brett, Bill and I will be on you like white on rice!
I kid! :D
-mice
This is a game that has grown on me a bit. I thought it looked patently absurd at first glance. Pulp has been beaten to death by the RPG industry, and this looked like the latest go-round of that.
However, I like the idea of tying everything into the hollow Earth concept. That gives the game a good scope and lends itself to something (possibly) different and interesting. I'm looking forward to some actual play reports.
If it's the sort of game that I can teach the players in less than 30 minutes, and if it includes viable prebuilt archetypes a la d6 Star Wars or Shadowrun, I might pick it up and give it a run.
Quote from: mearlsIf it's the sort of game that I can teach the players in less than 30 minutes, and if it includes viable prebuilt archetypes a la d6 Star Wars or Shadowrun, I might pick it up and give it a run.
So far I would say that the above is true for HEX. The system is very much in the same vain as d6 and shadowrun as far as archtypes and simplicity are concerned.
Links to Hollow Earth please!
Quote from: McrowSo far I would say that the above is true for HEX. The system is very much in the same vain as d6 and shadowrun as far as archtypes and simplicity are concerned.
Excellent. I'll have to put it on my to buy list when it finally shows up in stores. I think it hits retailers next month.
More details on the mechanic, please? :)
looks like HEX is already on backorder.
I have the email from Jeff Combos posted on my blog. Link in my sig.
Quote from: Mcrowlooks like HEX is already on backorder.
I have the email from Jeff Combos posted on my blog. Link in my sig.
Cool! I've already placed my order for the game and a set of Ubiquity dice.
We picked it up at Gencon, and while I've skimmed it we have not yet played it (I, uh, got sidetracked with The Traveller Adventure. And, uh, Steampunk Musha). I can tell you, however, that it looks like a damn solid pulp game.
Basic task res goes like this: Stat + skill = dice pool; roll any dice you want and count evens (or odds, you call 'em) which are successes. Number of successes must beat difficulty, etcetera. Damage from weapons is added to the dice pool; there are 2 types of initiative schemes; Style Points are like Action Dice/Drama Dice/Character Points/etc. Since the average you're gonna roll on any pool is one-half its value (duh), you can assume that as a result for inconsequential tasks. Or for NPCs.
Okay, look. The "Ubiquity Dice" thing may look kinda silly to you, but...I goofed around with 'em the other night and they're fun and damn handy. I rolled a 14-dice die pool with only 5 Ubiquity Dice. Nice. Shot me a T-Rex!
Take THAT, T-Rex! Yeah! S'what you get for bein' all paleozoic and stuff!
Scaly bastard.
Quote from: Dr Rotwang!Okay, look. The "Ubiquity Dice" thing may look kinda silly to you, but...I goofed around with 'em the other night and they're fun and damn handy. I rolled a 14-dice die pool with only 5 Ubiquity Dice. Nice. Shot me a T-Rex!
Take THAT, T-Rex! Yeah! S'what you get for bein' all paleozoic and stuff!
Scaly bastard.
The game has it's own set of dice?
That's crazy talk!So, Doc, how do they work?
You have 3 types of a d8 -- a d1, a d2 and a d3. A d1 is marked with an equal number of 0s and 1s; a d2 has 0, 1 and 2 and a d3 goes 0,1,2 and 3. They simulate the same odds as rolling, say, 3 dice and looking for evens.
They're different colors for ease of looking at them and figuring out what you need.
Gotta roll 14 dice? Get 3d3, 2d2 and 1d1. (3x3) + (2x2) + 1 = FOURTEEN!
Quote from: Dr Rotwang!You have 3 types of a d8 -- a d1, a d2 and a d3. A d1 is marked with an equal number of 0s and 1s; a d2 has 0, 1 and 2 and a d3 goes 0,1,2 and 3. They simulate the same odds as rolling, say, 3 dice and looking for evens.
They're different colors for ease of looking at them and figuring out what you need.
Gotta roll 14 dice? Get 3d3, 2d2 and 1d1. (3x3) + (2x2) + 1 = FOURTEEN!
Interesting.
It sounds like Exalted could use that. :)
That's a really creative way to keep die pools small. I'm impressed.
Okay, can you give me an example? I'm not seeing how those turn out equivalent.
The d2... how many of each number are on the dice? It doesn't seem evenly divisible (with 3 results...)
Can you give me an example of counting your 14 die roll?
Quote from: Caesar SlaadOkay, can you give me an example? I'm not seeing how those turn out equivalent.
The d2... how many of each number are on the dice? It doesn't seem evenly divisible (with 3 results...)
Can you give me an example of counting your 14 die roll?
Each die represents some number of dice rolled, each with 50% result.
So, a d1 is rolling 1 die with a 50% chance of success. Half the sides are blank, half have 1's.
A d2 is like rolling 2 dice, each with a 50% chance of success. Two sides are blank, two sides have a 2, and four sides have a 1.
A d3 is the same as rolling 3 dice.
It's an interesting idea. I bought a set with the core book to see how well they hold up in play. My worry is that it's easy to confuse the dice, since they're all the same size (d8s) though they are different colors.
Quote from: mearlsMy worry is that it's easy to confuse the dice, since they're all the same size (d8s) though they are different colors.
*shrug* Ya get used to it. I did, and I ain't no great shakes.
Quote from: mearlsEach die represents some number of dice rolled, each with 50% result.
So, a d1 is rolling 1 die with a 50% chance of success. Half the sides are blank, half have 1's.
A d2 is like rolling 2 dice, each with a 50% chance of success. Two sides are blank, two sides have a 2, and four sides have a 1.
A d3 is the same as rolling 3 dice.
Now that makes sense. What they do, it seems, is take a normal binomial style dice pool system and collapse it down. Clever.
QuoteIt's an interesting idea. I bought a set with the core book to see how well they hold up in play. My worry is that it's easy to confuse the dice, since they're all the same size (d8s) though they are different colors.
My concern -- that I expressed on RPGnet -- is that the terminology would be confusing. What they call a D3 is not what a normal gamer thinks of a d3. Respondants in that thread seemed to wave it off as no problem, but IME, that's just the niggly little ingrained detail that would trip a casual gamer up.
Quote from: Caesar SlaadMy concern -- that I expressed on RPGnet -- is that the terminology would be confusing. What they call a D3 is not what a normal gamer thinks of a d3. Respondants in that thread seemed to wave it off as no problem, but IME, that's just the niggly little ingrained detail that would trip a casual gamer up.
I just finished reading the book lastnight and I don't recall them using terminology like d3 and such. IIRC, they just refer to the # of dice to be rolled and Ubiquity dice are not the assumed method of dice rolling as the rules are written. There is a small section that explaind the Ubiquity dice, but thats about it.
Yeah, it's a surprisingly easy adjustment to make. I guess you could say "Roll 2Ud3", or something, but...I found it was easy to adjust to, myself.
Apply directly to the forehead!
Quote from: Dr Rotwang!Apply directly to the forehead!
that sir warrants this: :sillyhat:
if I have to see that add again, I swear.:gnasher:
Oh, you'll be OK.
I posted my review of HEX in the reviews section.